Road-grader.



wvihea aes Z29 I .No. 879,386. PATBNTED FEB. 18, 1908.

F. HUMMEL.

ROAD GRADER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1907.

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PATENTED FEB. 18, 1908.

P. HUMMEL.

ROAD GRADER. APPLIOATION IILEDMAY 14, 1907.

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PATENTED FEB. 18, 1908.

P. HUMMEL.

ROAD GRADER. APPLICATION I-ILED MAY-14,1907.

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FRANK HUMMEL, OF NEWTON, IOWA.

j' ROAD-GRADER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1908.

Application filed May 14. 1907. Serial No. 373.671.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK HUMMEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newton, in the county of Jasper and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Road-Grader, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a road grader of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, in which the draft animals are hitched direct to the main frame, and the scraper blade is attached direct to the main frame to thereby produce a rigid connection between the main frame and the scraper bar and to provide a direct hitch for the draft animals.

A further object is to provide improved means of simple, durable and inexpensive construction for jointly adjusting the scraper blade relative to the rear supporting wheels whereby the blade may be moved, by the operator, to position behind one wheel, to

permit the scraper blad to come close to a fixed object or a ditch.

A further object is to provide improved means for adjusting the angle of the scraper blade and for raising and lowering same.

My invention consists in certain details in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a plan view of the complete machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 shows an enlarged, detail view of the cross brace below the rear axle for adjustably sup porting the circular rim to which the scraper blade is attached. Fig. 4 shows a detail side view illustrating the rear end of the main frame member. Fig. 5 shows a rear elevation of the complete machine embodying my invention. Fig. 6 shows a front elevation of the forward axle and the supporting wheels thereon, and Fig. 7 shows a detail view illustrating the means for adjusting the rear axle.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 to in dicate the main frame member. This is com posed of two angle bars connected with each other and having near their forward ends, the arched portion 11. At the forward end of this main frame member 10 is a clevis 12 of the ordinary construction, to which the draft animals may be attached. The forward axle is composed of two angle bars 13 spaced apart from each other and having the journals 14 inserted between their ends. The said journals are held in place and the axle members are connected by means of the bolts 15 which pass through the axle members and through the journals. On the forward portion of the axle 13 are the curved brace bars 16 to which the tongue 17 is attached so that the tongue is connected direct to the front axle, while the clevis to which the draft animalsare attached is connected direct to the main frame member 10.

At the rear of the main frame member 10 is an upright 18 having a journal 19 at its lower end and a screw threaded extension 20 at its top. The scraper blade is indicated by the numeral 21 and is of the ordinary construction. It is connected to the journal 19 by having said journal inserted in a bearing or socket 22 attached to the rear central portion of the scraper blade. The screw threaded extension 20 is projected upwardly through a supporting bar 23 and secured thereto by means of the nut 24. Mounted on the under portion of the cross bar 23 are the guide lugs 25 which support a circular rim 26. This circular rim is provided with cog teeth 27 at its forward ortion. The scraper. blade 21 is firmly an rigidly connected with the circular rim 26 by means of the brackets 28.

I provide for raisin and lowering the supporting bar 23 as fol ows: Mounted on the ends of the sup orting bar 23 are the brackets 29 extended upwardly through the rear axle, adjacent to the su porting blocks 30 on the rear axle. These blocks 30 have screw threaded openings to receive the screw threaded shafts 31, which are also assed through the brackets 29 and provide with heads 32 below said brackets. At the top of each of the shafts 31 is a hand wheel 35 by which the shaft may be turned and the supporting bar 23 adjusted.

The rear axle comprises two angle bars 36, slightly spaced apart and having fixed between their ends, the axle members 37, which project outwardly between the ends of the angle bars, and then downwardly. On the lower end of each is a supporting wheel 38. The rear portion of the axle is provided with cog teeth, 38"*. The scraper supporting frame comprises a plate 39 and angle bars 40, which latter project down through between the angle bars 36, and thus form a sliding support for the scraper frame, which support may slide longitudinally of the axle. Mounted upon the central portion of the sliding plate 39 is a bearing 41 to receive a screw threaded shaft 42 having a hand wheel 43 at its to and the pinion 44 at its lower end in mesh with the rack 38. By this means it is obvious that by turning the hand wheel 43, the scraper blade may be moved laterally in either direction rela tive to the supporting wheels. I provide a rigid brace for the rear axle by extending two brace beams 43 from the top of the frame 10 rearwardly and outwardly to the end of the rear axle.

I have provided for changing the incline of the scraper blade as follows: Mounted upon the main frame member 10 in front of the circular rim 26 is an upright shaft 45 having a hand wheel 46 at its top and a pinion 47 near its lower end in mesh-with the cog teeth 27 on the said circular rim 26. A pawl 48 is pivoted to a bracket 49 on the main frame member 10, which pawl is designed to engage the pinion 47 and thus lock said pinion in any desired position.

Mounted upon the central portion of the rear axle is a drivers or operators seat 50, so positioned that an operator seated thereon may reach all of the hand wheels for adjusting the various parts of the machine.

In practical use, it is obvious that the frame is braced and supported against all strains to which machines of this kind are ordinarily subjected, although it is made of few parts and of comparatively light weight. The front axle may be made comparatively light because all of the draft is applied direct to the main frame member 10, and the only purpose of the forward axle and supporting wheels is to support and guide the forward end of the main frame. The major portion of the strain applied to the machine is received by the scraper blade and for this reason I connect the scraper blade direct to the main frame member 10. During the use of the machine, there is of course, considerable twisting strains applied to the ends of the scraper blade. These twisting strains are borne by the circular rim 26 which is connected by rigid braces with the ends of the scraper blade. The circular rim in turn is carried by a cross piece 23 which is adjustably connected to the rear axle and the supports for this cross piece 23 are firmly and rigidly held by means of the brace beams 43 The scraper blade may be raised or lowered by means of the hand wheels 35 and its incline may be adjusted by the hand wheel 46. In the event that it is desired to run the scraper blade close to an obstruction, or to have its end project over a ditch, then the operator may, by manipulating the hand wheel 43, cause the scraper blade to move laterally to position in front of the adjacent supporting wheel so that the scraper blade may project over a ditclnwhile the wheel will be supported on firm ground at the side of the ditch. In order to make this adjustment however, it is of course necessary that the scraper blade be inclined in the manner shown in Fig. 1, or far enough so that the wheel may pass behind the forward end of it.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, therefor is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a main frame member, a scraper blade connected to the rear end thereof, means for attaching draft animals to the forward end thereof, a forward truck pivotally connected to the main frame member and a tongue connected with said truck.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a forward truck, a tongue connected therewith, a straight frame member pivotally mounted on the forward truck,

means for attaching draft animals to its forward end, a rear axle, brace beams connected to said main frame. member and extended outwardly and rearwardly and attached to the ends of the rear axle, supporting wheels mounted on the rear axle, and a scraper blade supported by the rear axle.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a rear axle, supporting wheels thereon, a scraper blade pivoted at its central portion, means for adjusting either end of the scraper blade forwardly or rearwardly,

and means for moving the scraper blade longitudinally relative to the axle, so that either end thereof may be adjusted to position in front of and projecting beyond either of said supporting wheels.

4. In adevice of the class described, the combination of a rear axle, supporting wheels thereon, a scraper blade pivotally supported beneath the rear axle, means for adjusting the scraper blade so that either end may be moved forwardly or rearwardly, and means carried by the rear axle for moving the SCIiELPGI blade longitudinally relative to the ax e.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a rear axle, supporting wheels thereon, a scraper blade pivotally supported beneath the rear axle, means for adjusting the scraper blade so that either end may be moved forwardly or rearwardly, and means carried by the rear axle for moving the scraper blade longiudinally relative to the axle, and means carried by the rear axle for raising and lowering the scraper blade[ 6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a rear axle, a supporting bar capable of up and down movement, a circular rim carried by said supporting bar, means for vertically adjusting the supporting bar, a scraper blade pivotally supported at its central portion, braces fixed to the end portions of the scraper blade and attached to said circular rim, and means for rotating the circular rim.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a rear axle, supporting wheels thereon, a supporting bar capable of up and down movement, two screw threaded shafts seated in the axle and connected with the supporting bar for adjusting it, a circular rim rotatably supported beneath the sup porting bar, a scraper blade pivotally supported at its central portion, two brackets fixed to the end portions of the scraper blade and attached to the circular rim, said circular rim formed with cog teeth, and a cog wheel in mesh with the cog teeth for rotating the circular rim.

8. In a device of the class described, th combination of a forward axle, a main frame member connected therewith, and extended rearwardly, an upright fixed to the rear end of said main frame member, a scraper blade pivoted to the lower ends of said upright, a

, supporting bar fixed to the upper end of said upright, a rear axle, supporting wheels therein and capable of up and down movement, two screw threaded shafts mounted on the rear axle and connected with the end portions of said supporting bar, braces con nected to the forward portion of the main frame member and extended rearwardly and attached to the outer ends of the rear axle and having branches attached to the lower ends of said guides, a circular rim rotatably supported by the supporting bar, brackets fixed to the ends of the scraper blade and attached to said circular rim, the forward portion of said circular rim having cog teeth formed thereon, a pinion mounted in the main frame member and in mesh with said cog teeth, a hand wheel for operating said pinion, and a pawl to engage the pinion.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a forward axle, a tongue connected therewith, a main frame member pivotally attached to the forward axle, and a clevis connected to the forward end of the main frame member.

FRANK HUMMEL.

Witnesses:

JOHN G. HARRAH, J. T. HAWKINS. 

